Federation of Chittagong Shop Owners' Association called the strike which began at 9.00am and continued till 11am .

Members of other professional bodies and groups also extended their support to the business community.

Separate rallies were held in 12 key points of the city where people chanted slogans protesting new tax measures by the government including empowering tax officials to arrest businessmen for VAT (value added tax) evasion or inspect any business firms at any time.

Rallies were held at New Market Intersection, Chittagong Bay Shopping EPZ Square, Agrabad Badamtoli Square, Sholoshahar Gate No-2, GEC Intersection, Bohaddarhat Crossing, Probartak Square, Chawk Bazar Intersection, Jubilee Road Crossing, Terri Bazar, Jamal Khan Crossing and Baizid Bostami Square.

After the strike, a joint protest rally was held at New Market Intersection led by Federation of Chittaong Shop Owners's Association President Salah Uddin.

Terri Bazar Traders’ Association President Nur Mohammad, Biponi Bitan (New Market) Merchant Welfare Association General Secretary Mohammad Sagir, Bay Shopping Centre Traders Association President Nazrul Islam Manik, Jamal Khan Traders Association President Abul Monzur Ahmad, Bangladesh Hotel Restaurant Owners Association General Secretary M Mominul Haq, Bangladesh Shop Owners Association Chittagong General Secretary ASM Shamsul Islam, Khatungonj Traders’ Association President Nurul Haq, Chawk Bazar Traders’ Association General Secretary Abdul Jabbar, Reazuddin Bazar Traders Association President Nurul Akbar, Amir Market Traders Association President Mohammad Hossain and Federation General Secretary Abul Kashem addressed the rally.

The speakers termed the new measures as 'black laws' and urged the government to withdraw 'illogical' imposition of VAT. They also demanded immediate withdrawal of the empowerment of arrest given to the tax officials.